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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Weekly Recap #35 - (Part 1) - Lamentations

The book of Lamentations was a bit hard to understand....kinda like the book of Jeremiah. I guess that could be because Jeremiah is given credit for writing Lamentations, also.

Lamentations is a collection of 5 poems that lament....or mourn....the destruction of Jerusalem. Here is a break-down of each chapter:

Chapter 1 - The Destruction - Sorrow in Jerusalem

This chapter describes Jerusalem's ruins....describing Jerusalem as a woman who was once a famous princess but is now a wounded slave thinking about the contrast between her past and present....with agony and shame.

Isn't that just like us today....we compare different times in our own lives...maybe when we've had much better days....maybe when we were better off financially!! I'm learning to just take one day at a time...and don't waste it....enjoy it...and don't let other mess it up for you!!

Plainly said, huh?!?!?

Chapter 2 - God's Anger at Sin

This chapter is a summary of the shameful situation of the false prophets, the city leaders, and the young women. Jeremiah (since he is given credit as the author) is in agony as he watches starving children and crying mothers - all because the people sinned against God.

Chapter 3 - Hope in the Lord's Faithfulness - Prayer for Mercy

This chapter is an eyewitness account of God's wrath. Hope suddenly floods his soul as he realizes God's anger would not last forever. God's faithfulness and loving kindness and goodness are the ultimate saving reality!!!

Chapter 4 - The Siege of Jerusalem - God's Anger Satisfied

This chapter is a gloomy description of the devastation, before and after the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed. God was justly punishing the sins of His people.

Chapter 5 - Prayer for Restoration

This chapter is a prayer asking God to consider the people's condition. It ends with a plea for salvation.

The first, second, and 4th chapter poems are written as acrostics with each successive verse beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The 4th poem gives 3 verses per letter of the alphabet.

These were my very favorite verses. A few weeks ago, we visited a church and the message that morning was on these verses....and it was one of the most touching messages that I've ever heard....because....it was about....HOPE!!!

Lamentations 3:21-24 (NLT)

Yet I dare to HOPE when I remember this. The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, "The Lord is my inheritance; therefore.....